Published: Sunday, August 31, 2014 at 9:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, August 31, 2014 at 9:28 p.m.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Air Force's triple-option offense proved to be to stern of a test for Nicholls State University's revamped run defense.

Led by running back Jacobi Owens' 233 rushing yards on 23 carries, Air Force amassed 539 rushing yards in a 44-16 win at Falcon Stadium on Saturday.

The Colonels actually stopped the run on the Falcons' first two drives, and with 13:20 left in the second quarter, Nicholls tied the game at 9 on Francisco Condado's 37-yard field goal.

But, it was at that point when Owens took over rushing for 171 yards in the first half and setting up rushing touchdowns by Broam Hart and Devin Rushing giving Air Force a 23-9 halftime lead.

The Falcons' rushing attack continued in the third quarter, as Shane Davern and Rushing both found the end zone on 1- and 15-yard runs for a 37-9 lead. Paco Salano ended the scoring for Air Force with an 11-yard scoring run for a 44-9 lead with 8:06 left in the game.

Nicholls coach Charlie Stubbs changed his defensive coaching staff and personnel in the offseason after giving up 270 rushing yards a game last season.

While he saw some positive signs, Stubbs said the defense just couldn't stop the run at critical times.

"We were pretty good stopping things up the middle, which is the initial phase of the option. What we needed to do is create some turnovers, but what is odd for a first game there wasn't any turnovers by either team," Stubbs said. "I thought at times we exposed them a little bit and made some good plays. (Owens) is a very good player, and they got out on the perimeter with those tosses and sweeps. That got us out in space, and in space, you have to be tremendous tacklers and get off blocks. We weren't able to do that."

After Nicholls' defense got off to a great start, the defensive line came up short in pressuring the Falcons' offensive line.

Senior defensive end Cole Frazier said credit goes to Air Force for executing its offense, but he expects the Colonels' defense to learn from this game moving forward.

"The biggest thing for the defensive line is we needed to get their offensive linemen off our linebackers. We weren't doing a good job because they went right over the top and we weren't getting them squeezed out," Frazier said. "We did a good job on the first couple of series, but it is hard to get that game speed. Also, we had a few guys that were playing for the first time. It is hard to play without experience at this level. With this being the first game we thought we could create problems and we did make tackles and big hits we just came up a little short."

Nicholls (0-1 overall) wasn't the only team on the field trying to improve defensively.

Last season, Air Force (1-0) was ranked near the bottom in FBS football in total defense and gave up 240 rushing yards a game, but it would be Air Force's defense that started the scoring. After a 54-yard punt pinned the Colonels at their 9-yard line, the Falcons unleashed its pass rush and force Nicholls quarterback Kalen Henderson to throw and errant pass from the end zone. The play drew a flag for intentional grounding giving Air Force a safety and a 2-0 lead with 8:24 left in the first quarter.

That play was just the start of a rough day for Henderson as he was sacked four times and completed 12-of-25 pass attempts for 136 yards. Henderson was pulled in the fourth quarter, and backup quarterback Beaux Hebert threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Darryl Watson II to make it 44-16 with 2:37 left in the game.

Stubbs said Air Force also made changes on defense from last year, and his offense had trouble adjusting to the pressure.

"We got a whiff that they would change defensively. We were prepared for it, but they got some real good athletes and we got exposed with their athletic ability. They are just like us in a way. They had a poor defense and needed to shake it up," Stubbs said. "We knew they weren't going to stay the same, and they did some nice things. We will teach off of this, and it doesn't get any easier for us we got Arkansas next week."

CENTER OF ATTENTION

Thanks to couple of injuries Nicholls was down to its third-string center in the second half against Air Force.

Nicholls played without starting center Brandon Holmes, who was injured in practice, and backup center Ashton Duhe broke his hand in the second quarter. Redshirt freshman Brian Hernandez replaced Duhe.

Even though Air Force finished the game with five sacks and six tackles for loss yardage, Stubbs said Hernandez did an admirable job making the calls for the offensive line.

"I commend that young man because he hung in there and made the calls against their front and we lost Duhe I think before halftime," Stubbs said.

BOVIE'S BACK

One positive on defense was the return of linebacker Davin Bovie.

Bovie torn his ACL against McNeese State last season and missed the final four games, but he still finished second on the team in tackles with 85.

After eight months of rehab, Bovie returned and displayed his old form leading Nicholls with 11 tackles.

While he was disappointed with Air Force gaining 558 total yards, Bovie said the defense is going to learn and get better from this game.

"I can't really tell what happened. I will have to watch the film, but I know we never gave up and we can build off that," Bovie said. "Our start was good, but it is always how you finish. We want to build off that start, and throughout the game, we did good things. But the option tricks your eyes, and you can't make the wrong step and we will watch the film and see what went wrong."

OFFENSE SPUTTERS

Nicholls finished with 263 total yards and 18 first downs, and was held to 63 yards rushing.

The Colonels' rushing attack did well in the first quarter as junior running back Tobias Lofton scored his first touchdown as a Colonel on an 18-yard run to make it a 9-6 score with 3:02 left in the first quarter. But as the game went on, the Colonels running backs had little room to maneuver.

Henderson said the changes at center played a role in the offense's struggle, but it can all be corrected in practice this week.

"It wasn't anything we couldn't handle. It was just some miscommunication," Henderson said. "We just have to get everyone healthy for Arkansas. We did leave some points out there on the field, and it is just a few things we have to work out in film study. We will be OK."

<p>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Air Force's triple-option offense proved to be to stern of a test for Nicholls State University's revamped run defense.</p><p>Led by running back Jacobi Owens' 233 rushing yards on 23 carries, Air Force amassed 539 rushing yards in a 44-16 win at Falcon Stadium on Saturday.</p><p>The Colonels actually stopped the run on the Falcons' first two drives, and with 13:20 left in the second quarter, Nicholls tied the game at 9 on Francisco Condado's 37-yard field goal.</p><p>But, it was at that point when Owens took over rushing for 171 yards in the first half and setting up rushing touchdowns by Broam Hart and Devin Rushing giving Air Force a 23-9 halftime lead.</p><p>The Falcons' rushing attack continued in the third quarter, as Shane Davern and Rushing both found the end zone on 1- and 15-yard runs for a 37-9 lead. Paco Salano ended the scoring for Air Force with an 11-yard scoring run for a 44-9 lead with 8:06 left in the game.</p><p>Nicholls coach Charlie Stubbs changed his defensive coaching staff and personnel in the offseason after giving up 270 rushing yards a game last season.</p><p>While he saw some positive signs, Stubbs said the defense just couldn't stop the run at critical times.</p><p>"We were pretty good stopping things up the middle, which is the initial phase of the option. What we needed to do is create some turnovers, but what is odd for a first game there wasn't any turnovers by either team," Stubbs said. "I thought at times we exposed them a little bit and made some good plays. (Owens) is a very good player, and they got out on the perimeter with those tosses and sweeps. That got us out in space, and in space, you have to be tremendous tacklers and get off blocks. We weren't able to do that."</p><p>After Nicholls' defense got off to a great start, the defensive line came up short in pressuring the Falcons' offensive line. </p><p>Senior defensive end Cole Frazier said credit goes to Air Force for executing its offense, but he expects the Colonels' defense to learn from this game moving forward.</p><p>"The biggest thing for the defensive line is we needed to get their offensive linemen off our linebackers. We weren't doing a good job because they went right over the top and we weren't getting them squeezed out," Frazier said. "We did a good job on the first couple of series, but it is hard to get that game speed. Also, we had a few guys that were playing for the first time. It is hard to play without experience at this level. With this being the first game we thought we could create problems and we did make tackles and big hits we just came up a little short."</p><p>Nicholls (0-1 overall) wasn't the only team on the field trying to improve defensively.</p><p>Last season, Air Force (1-0) was ranked near the bottom in FBS football in total defense and gave up 240 rushing yards a game, but it would be Air Force's defense that started the scoring. After a 54-yard punt pinned the Colonels at their 9-yard line, the Falcons unleashed its pass rush and force Nicholls quarterback Kalen Henderson to throw and errant pass from the end zone. The play drew a flag for intentional grounding giving Air Force a safety and a 2-0 lead with 8:24 left in the first quarter.</p><p>That play was just the start of a rough day for Henderson as he was sacked four times and completed 12-of-25 pass attempts for 136 yards. Henderson was pulled in the fourth quarter, and backup quarterback Beaux Hebert threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Darryl Watson II to make it 44-16 with 2:37 left in the game.</p><p>Stubbs said Air Force also made changes on defense from last year, and his offense had trouble adjusting to the pressure. </p><p>"We got a whiff that they would change defensively. We were prepared for it, but they got some real good athletes and we got exposed with their athletic ability. They are just like us in a way. They had a poor defense and needed to shake it up," Stubbs said. "We knew they weren't going to stay the same, and they did some nice things. We will teach off of this, and it doesn't get any easier for us we got Arkansas next week."</p><p>CENTER OF ATTENTION</p><p>Thanks to couple of injuries Nicholls was down to its third-string center in the second half against Air Force.</p><p>Nicholls played without starting center Brandon Holmes, who was injured in practice, and backup center Ashton Duhe broke his hand in the second quarter. Redshirt freshman Brian Hernandez replaced Duhe.</p><p>Even though Air Force finished the game with five sacks and six tackles for loss yardage, Stubbs said Hernandez did an admirable job making the calls for the offensive line.</p><p>"I commend that young man because he hung in there and made the calls against their front and we lost Duhe I think before halftime," Stubbs said.</p><p>BOVIE'S BACK</p><p>One positive on defense was the return of linebacker Davin Bovie.</p><p>Bovie torn his ACL against McNeese State last season and missed the final four games, but he still finished second on the team in tackles with 85.</p><p>After eight months of rehab, Bovie returned and displayed his old form leading Nicholls with 11 tackles.</p><p>While he was disappointed with Air Force gaining 558 total yards, Bovie said the defense is going to learn and get better from this game.</p><p>"I can't really tell what happened. I will have to watch the film, but I know we never gave up and we can build off that," Bovie said. "Our start was good, but it is always how you finish. We want to build off that start, and throughout the game, we did good things. But the option tricks your eyes, and you can't make the wrong step and we will watch the film and see what went wrong."</p><p>OFFENSE SPUTTERS</p><p>Nicholls finished with 263 total yards and 18 first downs, and was held to 63 yards rushing.</p><p>The Colonels' rushing attack did well in the first quarter as junior running back Tobias Lofton scored his first touchdown as a Colonel on an 18-yard run to make it a 9-6 score with 3:02 left in the first quarter. But as the game went on, the Colonels running backs had little room to maneuver.</p><p>Henderson said the changes at center played a role in the offense's struggle, but it can all be corrected in practice this week.</p><p>"It wasn't anything we couldn't handle. It was just some miscommunication," Henderson said. "We just have to get everyone healthy for Arkansas. We did leave some points out there on the field, and it is just a few things we have to work out in film study. We will be OK."</p>